Registration for fall is now open. Below is a summary of our offerings. New for high schoolers this fall: We will offer in-town recreation and have a separate Turbo Training group for high schoolers.
LITTLE KICKERS (PRE-K)
Our Little Kickers program is offered for kids who are one year away from kindergarten (meaning they will enter Kindergarten in 2020). We do 40-minute sessions once a week on Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 9:10. The sessions consist of fun activities that involve every player with a ball to maximize repetitions and development. The season runs from September 7 to October 19. (No session on October 12.) Cost is $60. Each player gets a shirt but should bring his or her own size 3 soccer ball. Note that a parent must be present at each session. You can register for Pre-K under the 2019 Fall Little Kickers option. Contact Pre-K Director Matt McCarthy with any questions.
K-2
Our K-2 program is open to kids who will be entering Kindergarten to Grade 2 this fall. We do one session per week on Saturday mornings from September 7 to October 19. The sessions consist of fun activities that maximize repetitions for development of muscle memory and then end with an informal, low-pressure game. For Grades 1 and 2 we plan to offer pickup soccer once a week as well. Cost is $60. Each player gets a shirt but will need a size 3 ball, cleats, and shin pads for all sessions. You can register for K-2 under the 2019 Fall Soccer Program option. Just choose the appropriate grade–the grade they are entering this fall. Contact K-2 Director Alan Lambkin with any questions.
IN-TOWN RECREATIONAL SOCCER
Our in-town recreation program is offered to players in Grade 3 and up. Teams of Holden players play against each other right in Holden. Grade 3 & 4 Boys and Grade 3 & 4 Girls play 7v7 on Saturday afternoons. The older ages play small-sided games (e.g., 5v5). Grade 5 & 6 and 7 & 8 play on Sundays, because travel soccer is on Saturdays. They also have an optional practice during the week. The high schoolers play one night during the week with no team practices. The season runs from September 7 to November 3. Cost is $105 for grades 3 to 8 and $75 for high schoolers. Each player gets a shirt but must have their own ball, soccer cleats, and shin pads for all games and practices. You can register under the 2019 Fall Soccer Program option. Just choose the appropriate age group. Contact Recreation Director Dave Murphy with any questions.
TRAVEL SOCCER
In the travel soccer program, Holden teams compete against teams from nearby towns in the Midland Area Youth Soccer League (MAYS). In fall, this program is offered to kids in grades 5 to 12. (In spring it is also offered to Grade 3 & 4.) Divisions are comprised of two grades (e.g., Grade 5 & 6 Girls). They are also divided into three divisions by ability level: Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3. (Division 1 is the most challenging.) We place players and teams in the most suitable divisions, where they can be appropriately challenged but not overmatched. Games are on Saturdays for U12 and U14 and on Sundays for high school (U16 and U18). In fall, there are no playoffs. All teams play eight games. Teams have one practice per week. We try to offer a night of pickup soccer as well. The season runs from August 25 (at the earliest) to November 19 (at the latest). No games on Columbus Day weekend. Players must purchase uniforms and bring their own soccer ball to all practices and games. You can register under the 2019 Fall Soccer Program option. Just choose the appropriate age group. Cost is $150 ($75 for high school). Those who want to play Travel and In-Town Rec (and get two games and two practices per week) can do so for no extra charge! Just choose the Travel AND Rec option. Contact Travel Director Matt McCarthy with any questions.
TOPSOCCER
The TOPSoccer Program is for children with special needs who live in Central Massachusetts and are between the ages of five and 14. TOPSoccer athletes play soccer in a modified version designed to help build a feeling of individual confidence and success. The sessions are one hour per week (typically on Sundays). Volunteer groups of trained coaches (ages 15 & older) serve as one-on-one facilitators to each TOPSoccer athlete. For questions and more information, contact TOPSoccer Director Osman Bilsel.
UNIFIED SOCCER
The program brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to train and compete on the same teams. Participants improve their physical fitness, sharpen their skills and learn acceptance and inclusion. Unified Soccer serves as a progression from the TOPSoccer program for players with ID who wish to play on a team with peers without ID. It is intended for individuals capable of playing independently in a team environment without rules modifications. There is no cost to join. You can register through SportsPilot. Contact Unified Soccer Director Jason Brisbois with any questions.
TURBO TRAINING (SUPPLEMENTAL TRAINING)
Turbo Training offers players additional training (on top of their HYS team practices and games) with licensed, paid coaches right in Holden…at an extremely low cost compared to other alternatives. It is intended for players who genuinely want to practice more. All players receive a training shirt. Sessions are 45 minutes focused on high repetitions of technical skills to build muscle memory. Players can sign up for one or two nights per week. The program is run by HYS Director of Soccer Development Jon Gangi, with help from other licensed coaches (including Assumption Captain Emma Mailman and former Assumption standout Ryan Murphy). It is open to players in Grades 1-12. Players are separated by age. Refer to the Turbo Training page for more details. Cost is $60 for one night per week (a total of six sessions) and $90 for two nights per week (a total of 12 sessions). You can register through SportsPilot. Contact Turbo Training Director Jon Gangi with any questions.